Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Book Review - "Going Your Own Way: Understanding MGTOW"

"Going Your Own Way: Understanding MGTOW" is a new book released by Paul Elam and Peter Wright, and (as far as my research shows me) is the first serious publication that attempts to define, explain, and introduce MGTOW to the general public, as well as become sort of a "constitution" of the MGTOW movement. 

It is incredibly well written, clear, and succinct, and necessarily so as it attempts to lay down the theoretical foundations for an embryonic concept that will only be damaged if more concrete measures were made to define it.  This immediately debunks Mr. Elam's and Mr. Wright's critics (who claim the authors are trying to claim MGTOW for their own and that it can't be defined) as nearly two full chapters are dedicated to explaining how MGTOW is similar to an open source software wherein nobody can claim rights to it.  After much explaining and intellectual honesty, I believe they manage to best define it as "male self-determination" and am inclined to agree.

With definitions out of the way, the book then delves into many aspects of traits of MGTOW laying down the logic, reason, empiricism, history, psychology, economic and other causes for the MGTOW phenomenon.  I was particularly impressed with the amount of research that went into the historical (sometimes, ancient) study of "bachelors," "bachelor theory," and the bachelor lifestyle, providing not just historical perspective, but a shocking insight into society's past psychological relationship with bachelors (for example "bachelor taxes" and the presumption bachelors some how owed it to society to marry and breed).   I was also very impressed with the time dedicated towards pair bonding and attachment.  The reason for this is that the same critics who berate Elam and Wright for daring to write a book about MGTOW, are also the same people who in a very hypocritical way insist on a rule that "no real MGTOW" would have anything to do with women.  This false believe, unfortunately, presents a huge risk to the younger and disaffected men who search and find the MGTOW community, as they are consequently tempted to dismiss women altogether, women that may actually be of great benefit and contribution to their lives.


About the only real complaint or concern I had about the book was what I believed to be the overly liberal use of excerpts from various books, texts, and periodicals.  Entire pages of "The Odyssey" and "The Art of Courtly Love" are quoted, where I would have just preferred some key quotes and then more analysis and commentary from the authors.   There were also some philosophical and technical differences and disagreements that I had with the book, but nothing that would get my panties in a bundle, unlike many of the authors' critics.

Besides that, I believe because the book is the first of its kind and is (more or less) introductory in nature, a glossary would be helpful to young men (and women) who are first being introduced to the concepts therein.  "Gynocentrism," "VAWA," "hypergamy," etc. are all terms that the average person does not know, and because of this may be misled into thinking it's one of those "faux" studies like "women's studies" where academians create made up words and acronyms to sound smart.

Overall, however, the book is a very good, thorough, and HONEST summation of what MGTOW is, easily digestible by the beginning reader or a people more involved and aware of the MGTOW philosophy.  I would STRONGLY recommend it as a primer to anyone looking to understand or research the topic.  I would also STRONGLY recommend ignoring all the fake reviews on Amazon as many in the MGTOW community viewed Mr. Elam's and Wright's writing of this book as "sacrilege" and have since been voting it down with faux votes.

7 comments:

Matt said...

I wasn't aware of this book.

Thanks for the review, Aaron.

98abaile said...

The best description I've heard to define MGTOW's relationships with women is that a MGTOW goes where he wants in life and women are welcome to come along for the ride. But she has to remember she is just a passenger and MGTOWs don't appreciate backseat drivers.

Anonymous said...

About the latest French killings. The best joke is to discriminate, is it not ?

Its ok to accept high qualified immigrants in your country, but when a group of jihadists start to kill people, you better stop writing or drawing jokes, and use discrimination as the best joke forever, amin.

Objectively speaking said...

"I would also STRONGLY recommend ignoring all the fake reviews on Amazon as many in the MGTOW community viewed Mr. Elam's and Wright's writing of this book as "sacrilege" and have since been voting it down with faux votes."

So, many actual MGTOWs are (as requested by Paul) reviewing the material. Much of which was originally available on avfm and PW's site. So, you don't have to have read the book to know most of the arguments being made. Also the PIGTOW video from 25:00 on is most informative of Paul's belligerant attitudes. Did you check that out Aaron? Did you?

So...in what way are these Amazon reviews false / 'faux'?

If you write a book about christianity and a huge number of christians come in and say that your book is rubbish, a distortion on the christian movement...you think that potential readers should take no notice? Really? The views on MGTOW of a couple of MHRAs are more valid than actual MGTOWs (defined as those who adopted the philosophy a long time before it was commercially viable)?

Similarly, the 'faux' votes from people actually in the MGTOW community (your words)...'faux', in what way?

The criticisms being made of the book by JtO, DD, Sandman, Bar Bar, Stardusk...have you listened to them?

I've noted the changing tone of your blog over the years (as you started seeing a potential revenue stream from it?). It left me wondering where you stood on, thank you very much for making your views crystal clear over the last few days. Most helpful.

Take The Red Pill said...

"...The reason for this is that the same critics who berate Elam and Wright for daring to write a book about MGTOW, are also the same people who in a very hypocritical way insist on a rule that "no real MGTOW" would have anything to do with women."

This irrational insistence by some self-appointed "authorities" who "insist on a rule that "no real MGTOW" would have anything to do with women" seems to be self-contradictory WRT to MGTOW: namely, that "Going Your Own Way" IS JUST THAT. Going YOUR OWN Way without any self-appointed authority telling you what qualifies you to Go Your Own Way.
We men who have decided for ourselves to Go Our Own Way do not need any "authority" -- self-appointed or otherwise -- to define us! In fact, I thought that was WHY we decided to Go Our Own Way in the first place! (I know that was the primary reason that I did!)
It does little to have thrown off the shackles of the feminist-controlled society that we have now -- in order to be able to decide for ourselves what is best for us as men, as humans, and as MGTOW -- than to accept the new shackles of some self-appointed 'MGTOW authority' who has decided to tell us what we are and are not.*
"Meet the new Boss; same as the old Boss" -- I didn't decide to Go My Own Way just to have a New Boss! I am a Man Going HIS Own Way -- I DON'T NEED OR WANT A BOSS!

*Upon reflection, the women who support Feminism "threw away their shackles" from men, only to accept their new shackles from Feminists and their new pimp/husband, 'Big Daddy Government'.

grey enlightenment said...

MTGOW and Red Pill movement will continue to gain popularity as millions of young people wake up to the lies of the left

Alex said...

"many in the MGTOW community viewed Mr. Elam's and Wright's writing of this book as "sacrilege""

-

It's not a matter of sacrilege, per se, but rather that Elam seems to have a love/hate relationship with the concept of MGTOW. One month he's cool with it and the men who take that road, the other he shits on it and them, mostly because he'd like to have them under his banner in order to increase his clout with more bodies and financial donations, and gets pissed when they don't comply.

Many/probably most MGTOW would not try to downvote someone's book(given the sweat and time it represents)but I'll grant that he is disliked enough for some to do so. Keep in mind that feminists are far more likely to downvote him as they would not want to give the thoughts of 'misogynistic' men any exposure. MGTOW don't give a shit about other men's opionions, anymore than they care about society's/women's expectations, unless they personally respect those men.